The cover of "The Deer and the Cauldron: No. 1 In the World Starting from Yangzhou" carries an edge and heroic spirit that emerged from the market.
The background is the prosperous wharf of Yangzhou City. The golden red light of the setting sun covers the river. Several awning boats are moored on the sparkling water with staggered masts. The wine shops and teahouses on the shore are bustling with people. The guise rustles in the evening breeze. You can vaguely hear the talk of storytellers and the noise of drinkers, full of fireworks and vitality.
In the center of the picture, Wei Xiaobao is dressed in a more energetic outfit than ordinary street kids. He wears a half-worn brown cloak over his navy blue shorts. He has a dagger and a money bag around his waist. He steps briskly on the bluestone of the dock. He had the usual clever smile on his face, but his eyes were a little sharper and more determined than before, as if he was starting from the familiar land of Yangzhou and looking to the world beyond. There was a baggage slung over his shoulder, which seemed to contain his belongings and the beginning of a legend that was about to be written.
In terms of color, the warm gold of the setting sun intersects with the sparkling waves of the river. The blue gray of the dock, the bright red of the wine flags and the calm tones of Wei Xiaobao's clothes complement each other. It not only retains the urban background of Yangzhou City, but also reveals the ambition and vigor of "the best in the world", making the whole picture full of the tension of the story.